Signed numeric (S)

You can only type the numbers 0 through 9 into the field (no blanks, no plus sign, no minus sign).

To leave the field, press the Field Exit key, the Field+ key, the Field- key, or a cursor movement key. If you do not type any data into the field, you can press the Enter key.

You should consider the following differences when you choose between signed numeric (S) and numeric only (Y):
  • Signed numeric restricts the characters that you can type into the field to the numbers 0 through 9.
  • You cannot specify S in position 35 if you also specify the EDTCDE or EDTWRD keyword.
  • Numeric-only performs character removal to remove nonnumeric characters; signed numeric prevents you from typing in these characters at all.

For input-capable fields only, the display length for the field is one more than the length specified in positions 30 through 34. The farthest right position on the display is reserved for a minus sign.

The following considerations apply when the IBM® i operating system passes the contents of a signed numeric field to your program:
  • Your program always sees a numeric, right-aligned, zero-filled field.
  • The field is displayed as a right-aligned, blank-filled field unless you specify CHECK(RZ). If you specify CHECK(RZ), the field is displayed as right-adjusted and zero-filled.
  • The IBM i operating system does not perform decimal alignment.
  • The IBM i operating system does not remove characters from the field (as it does for numeric only fields).

When an input-capable signed numeric field displays and you do not specify CHECK(RZ), the IBM i operating system performs zero suppression by default (the EDTCDE and EDTWRD keywords are not valid for signed numeric fields).

Negative numbers are handled as follows:
  • On input, you must type the number and press the Field- key. The number is right-aligned in the displayed field with a minus sign in the farthest right position. The IBM i operating system converts the farthest right significant digit to hex Dn where n is the significant digit, before passing the number to your program. For example, if you type 12345 and press the Field- key, 12345- is displayed and your program sees X'F1F2F3F4D5'.
  • On output, the IBM i operating system converts hex D in the farthest right digit to hex F. This changes the negative number to a positive number for display purposes and displays a minus sign in the farthest right (additional) position in the displayed field. For example, if your program sees X'F1F2F3F4D5', the number appears on the display as 12345-.

For examples of signed numeric fields and sample data typed into them, see the example in Date (L), Time (T), and Timestamp (Z).